Phase Coupler Install

[snickster]

I am in the process of prewiring our house.
We have 2 200 amp panels.
I know that in order to use UPB I have to at least use a phase coupler between the 2 legs of each panel.
My question is ; do I have to use anything between the 2 200 AMP panels ?
I don't really understand this , and I am having trouble explaining this to my electrician. Sheetrock is coming soon .
Thanks for the help !

 

[DavidL]

I am in the process of prewiring our house.
We have 2 200 amp panels.
I know that in order to use USB I have to at least use a phase coupler between the 2 legs of each panel.
My question is ; do I have to use anything between the 2 200 AMP panels ?
I don't really understand this , and I am having trouble explaining this to my electrician. Sheetrock is coming soon .
Thanks for the help !

The odds are that "on top" of the two 200 amp panels they are connected a common buss to the same meter. Which means that there is a signal path from one panel to the other already.

Utility Pole >>>Meter >>>common buss >>>Panel one and Panel two >>>>Two phases that get coupled.

In my house, I have two meters (a "cheap one" for the geothermal heating system, an "expensive one" for rest of electrical).

Utility Pole >>> Utility transformer >>>Common buss >>> Meter 1 and Meter 2 each going to seperate power panels. Coupler is only on one of those panels. The Common buss still works to distribute the powerline signal via the coupler to both legs.

So, you will likely only need one phase coupler on one of the panels.

 

[upstatemike]

When discussing UPB phase couplers I see the term "inverting" coupler used a lot. Are all UPB signal couplers "inverting"? If not, when do you use an inverting Coupler vs a non-inverting coupler?

 

[DeLicious]

no, not all phase couplers are inverting. inverting phase couplers are typically used to put the signal on the other side in-phase with the electrical wave. i believe these are best used for coupling the phases and increasing signal strength. non-inverting phase couplers put the signal on the other side without putting it in the correct place on the sine wave and, I believe, are best used to attenuate inter-phase noise so that noise on phase doesn't bleed over to the other. somebody feel free to correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[PaulD]

I will be facing the same situation soon and I think my house may have 3x200 panels. I don't expect to need more than a single couper in one of the panels. However, is there any reason (other than cost) that you cannot put a coupler in each panel?

 

[aehusted]

I will be facing the same situation soon and I think my house may have 3x200 panels. I don't expect to need more than a single couper in one of the panels. However, is there any reason (other than cost) that you cannot put a coupler in each panel?

I think this may be a bad idea. since the 3 couplers will be different distances from the signal source and destination, you will in effect be multiplying every signal by 3 as well as creating looping paths for the signals.
I tried adding an active coupler to my old house in addition to the passive coupler/blocker and it was a disaster.

 

[nightwalker]

I will be facing the same situation soon and I think my house may have 3x200 panels. I don't expect to need more than a single couper in one of the panels. However, is there any reason (other than cost) that you cannot put a coupler in each panel?

I think this may be a bad idea. since the 3 couplers will be different distances from the signal source and destination, you will in effect be multiplying every signal by 3 as well as creating looping paths for the signals.
I tried adding an active coupler to my old house in addition to the passive coupler/blocker and it was a disaster.

Since you're doing it yourself you can take a wait and see attitude on installing more than one coupler. If you have troubles simply add another. Since we're talking about UPB here, in the average size house, say around 5000sf generally one at the main panel is all that's needed. I've not had to use the new amplifier for UPB yet but in some really large homes i have had to put more than one phase coupler.

 

[LightenUP]

I'm not a big beleiver in the SA Inverting Phase Coupler. In tests the PCS device has proven to be the best of all the couplers. Even the older CPRs from SA have little overall effect on the signal, nominal at best. I have also tried multiples in several panels with no change. Try the PCS phase coupler, possibly the split-phase repeater, or if not using too many devices a physical phase allignment to me has the best improvement of signal strength possible.